Middle East

Jul. 24, 2014 | 12:03 PM

Brazil recalls ambassador from Israel over Gaza assault

Palestinians ride in a truck as they flee their houses from Israeli shelling during an Israeli ground offensive east of Khan Younes in the southern Gaza Strip July 24, 2014.(REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

BEIRUT: Brazil has recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv over Israel's "disproportionate use of force" in its ongoing ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"The Brazilian government considers unacceptable [the] escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine," the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday on its website. "We strongly condemn the disproportionate use of force by Israel in the Gaza Strip, from which large numbers of civilian casualties, including women and children resulted."

The move comes on the 17th day of an Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 700 Palestinians. Human rights groups and the Gaza Health Ministry say that more than 80 percent of the fatalities have been civilian.

"The Brazilian Government reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire between the parties," the statement said. "In addition, the ambassador of Brazil in Tel Aviv was called to Brasilia for consultations."

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